'JSO ITSKKl!. I'LANTS OK (JTAM. 



traiis]>Iaiite<l wliilt' very small. To prepare tlie j^'niuiid f<»r a jiarden it is cleared of 

 brusli and weeds. When new weeds begin tu spring up the dry brush is spread over 

 the surface and burned, which kills the young seedlings and at the same time 

 enriches the ground with the ashes. 



Tlie otdy impliMiient used by the natives, a scuffle or thrust hoe, called "fusino," 

 or "fozifio," is well adapteil for clearing the ground and. keeping it free fnjni weeds. 

 It consists of a broad transverse blade provideil with a socket into which a long 

 handle is litteil. The iron part is T-shai)e<l, with the socket in the stem of the T and 

 with one arm of the letter longer than the other. InfJuam it is usually made by 

 the village lilacksmith from a iiuisket barrel — an almost literal example of beating 

 "swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks" — a practice which was 

 undoubtedly carried out among jJriTnitive jieople in more than one region of the 

 world. All the natives — men, women, ami chiMren — are skilled in the use of this 

 tool. 



IMany plants will grow in almost pure sand; others re(]uire the ground to be 

 enriched. For manure cow dung is best. The soil is also benefited by turning; 

 under weeds, by j)lanting velvet beans and othor nitrogen-gleaning leguminous 

 plants, which may either be fed to cattle or turned under as green manure. An 

 occasional croj) of peanuts is reconunended, which may ])e utilized either as forage 

 for animals or as food for man. Wood ashes are always available, and are recon - 

 mended for the sake of the potash they contain. Nitrate of soda, if it can be obtainec, 

 makes an excellent fertilizer; but care must be taken not to apply it too strong; 

 half an ounce to a gallon of water is recommended for potted plants and one ounce 

 per gallon for garden i>atches. 



Hedges are the most economical inclosures. They may be made of lemoncitci, 

 lime, lemon, physic nut, or lead tree. The lemon, lime, and lemoncito grow densely, 

 sending up sprouts from their roots. They have the advantage of yielding frui , 

 but they need to be trimmed and held in check. The physic nut and Leucaem 

 take root readily when freshly cut stakes are thrust into the ground. Both ae 

 poisonous and are immune from attacks of animals. Henna is also recommendec. 

 It grows readily from cuttings; but the odor of its flowers, though delightful fromi 

 distance, is too rank at close range to be agreeable. For surrounding large gardei 

 patches remote from dwellings sappan wood and lemoncito are recommended. 



Among the animal pests which infest gardens are white ants, mole crickets, and ii 

 some localities land cra])S, which are herbivorous. The field adjacent to the palaci 

 at Agaiia is riddled with their burrows. Insects are held in check by the use tf 

 scalding water. Crabs are often caught l)y the natives in traps of bamboo placed it 

 the entrance to their burrows. 



In the climate of Guam seeds are apt to die if left unprotected for any length of time 

 Ordinary garden seeds should be thoroughlj^ dried before storing and should be kep 

 in glass jars or tin cans sealed with paraffin or soldered. The same precaution 

 should be taken in the transportation of seeds. Corn, onion seed, and seed of lettuc 

 sent from the United States to Manila in paper wrappers were found to be quite dea( 

 after having been kept for a few months; and the failure of the seed of lettuce 

 onions, and of several other vegetables brought by us to Guam may have been owin^ 

 to carelessness in packing. On the other hand, certain seeds must be kei)t fresh, ai 

 they lose their vitality in drying. This is true of the mango, avocado, mangosteen, 

 and many other tropical fruits, the seeds of which are usually packed for transjiorta- 

 tion in moist charcoal, to prevent drying and the attacks of fungus. « 



The vegetables available for cultivation in Guam and their proper treatment are | 

 shown in the following list: 



Artichokes. — Not successfully grown in Guam. When planted they grow coarse 

 and weedy. 



«SeeDuvel, The Vitality and germination of seeds, U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau Plant 

 Industry Bull. No. 58. 1904, 



